U.S. Cable ISP Begins Metered Internet Trial - Poll
Tuesday June 3, 2008
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To discourage bandwidth hogs, U.S. Internet provider Time Warner Cable plans to start metered Internet testing later this week. The idea of paying for Internet usage according to the amount of traffic you generate is highly controversial here but more common practice in other countries.
Is it a ploy by ISPs to make more money and/or limit online freedom? Or is it a win-win situation for the vast majority of Internet users? Answer the poll question on our homepage to vote on this topic. See also - → What Is Network Bandwidth? → What Is Net Neutrality? |
If Time Warner in this area “changes” to metered Internet, you can BET I will be changing to an ISP that provides an “all you can eat” service. Luckily, there’s 2 other competitor’s in my area – notice the ‘testing’ is occuring in a closed market…
Give me a break – This is a scheme to generate revenue PERIOD. According to the article, they want to tier their ’services’ big shock…
1) 5G / month – $29.99 + .99/G
2) 40G / month – $54.90 + .99/G
Time Warner’s RoadRunner service is currently $44.95/ month, unlimited. Hummm, revenues will increase $10 bucks per month x millions of subscribers. That’s a whopping 22% increase for less service than today….WOW what a deal. A million subscribers x $10 per month = $10 million dollars A MONTH by changing a billing entry…..Oh and not 1 dime has gone into “infrastructure” yet.
Funny thing is, I don’t remember TW reps EVER calling me to thank me on my low Internet usage and giving me a rebate for not using their infrastructure more than average…..
Tiered billing should sound familar to everyone – (check your cellphone bill…OR your old phone bill before broadband) Of course the spin will be “making it more affordable, better speeds, blah,blah,blah”. Forget about Online TV / Movie services (NetFlix), the kids playing online games, or sending Grandma pictures – better check how much bandwidth you have left this month – ChaaaChing. Do you use the Time Warner VOIP phone service? – oooops, it takes Internet bandwidth to make that phone call – ChaaaaChing. It’s a virtual guarantee the service WON’T be faster or better – it’ll simply be more expensive.
Fairest way to finance infrastructure? You aren’t profitable AND able improve infrastructure on what you charge now? I find that hard to believe. Why is it we have to finance improvements for Time Warner’s board & shareholders and be satisfied with less service for more $$? Mr Leddy, my home’s infrastructure for the Home Theater, wired & wireless network to enjoy your ’services’ needs upgrading – where at TW do I send the invoice?
TW, you want to serve your customers? Give us the ability to ala cart the cable channels since you “give” me many channels I don’t want but have to receive to get TV I actually watch….
oh wait, cable TV is already a tiered, billed service…. hummm interesting
Hopefully Verizon, Comcast, & all other competition will crush you
Comcast is already under fire by the FCC for this type of thing. They already are one of the highest costing and least searvicing providers. $60/mo for a 4mbUP/364kbDN internet and $90/mo cable that supplies Sci-Fi in the listing (All satalite providers offer this at less then half the cost but umm…wow ten times the sports channels >.